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INTRODUCING THE SHUTTERBUG (Kwesi Marcano)...
1.What is your real name and do you have a link to a website of yours you'd like to connect people to?
Kwesi Marcano www.kmarcano.com
2. Where you are from & where are you currently based?
Trinidad & Tobago, Trinidad.
3. What is your ethnic background (it is interesting in relation to the group's theme)?
I am of African decent.
4. What do you think about this group and how do you personally relate to it?
I think it’s wonderful, it isn’t often that we have an opportunity, especially in a country like my own which is so heavily influenced by western (i.e. American) ideas of beauty, to see the world from another’s point of view.
5. Is photography your profession?
I am a graphic artist; I guess photography (especially of late) is my part time job.
6. How did you get started in photography?
I did a photography class at the technical collage I went to, but this was back before Digital SLRs and while I was very interested in it, the cost of things like film and processing chemicals and so on was a little out of my reach. At the time I saw it more as a hobby than a professional path. I currently work for an advertising agency and last year one of the photographers we work with was selling his back up camera (a canon d30) and I guess he realized (from some of the convos we had) that I had in interest in photography. So he gave me first dibs on it and I just ‘went to town’ from there.
7. Are you into any other forms of visual art or history/enthnography/anthropology.cultural studies as either a profession or hobby? If so, tell us a bit about it.
Comic books, I wrote a story a few years ago and before I die I have to finish drawing that. Animation but I found it to be to time consuming and I got bored with the isolation.
8. In your photography, what format & equipment do you most use and like to use (i.e., camera(s), film stock, etc.)?
Digital, currently I’m using a canon 20D and I rent different types of equipment from time to time, I like to experiment.
9. Describe your style as a photographer; What is unique about it? What makes you stand out?
Wow, that’s a difficult one to answer… I think from a local perspective, I live in a country which, unfortunately, is not as culturally astute as It should be... at least where visual media is concerned. Photography isn’t really seen as an “art form” by a lot of people. I mean, don’t get me wrong; we can appreciate the beauty of a good photo but people see me with my camera and the first thing they ask me is “what website is that for?” and I tell them, "well I just like taking pictures..." and their response is always like “oh.” So when I do show them my stuff they are like … “oh wow that’s really beautiful.” So I would say my work is more introspective and experimental.
10. What would you like to/ what do you do with your photography (e.g., publish in magazines, get photo assignments)?
I would like to be able to exhibit my work in other parts of the world especially in places where few people have never heard of Trinidad & Tobago. And I would like to be able to travel as I said and bring those images back home.
I am also fascinated by erotic photography so I would love to publish a book of erotic photos as well.
Also I wouldn’t mind working for an entertainment magazine. If I could I would like to follow a band around for like a year and document them behind the scenes. I saw a documentary on Annie Leibovitiz once and I thought wow that would be a cool way to spend like a year of your life.
11. Are you shy when taking photographs of people? What is your approach?
Sometimes, because people in my country are very camera shy and they don’t understand that sometimes photographers will take pictures for the sheer artistic value and not necessarily for commercial use, or to exploit their image. So taking pictures of strangers here can sometimes be a cultural faux pas. So most time I have to be little sneaky about it. But then I go up to them and show them the pictures and if I’m lucky, they like what they see and open up to letting me take some more. Or sometimes I have to play tourist and then they just write me off a such.
12. Is there a person, persons or subject matter that you would LOVE to photograph?
Portraits of famous people
13.. What is your dream job?
Work for Rolling Stones magazine.
14. What is/What are your favorite colours?
Orange, black and green.
15. What is your best time of day (i.e., when are you most creative &/or energetic)?
Early morning.
16. What are your favorite foods?
Pizza or anything with lots of cheese.
17. If you had a pre-paid ticket to 5 different locations anywhere in the world, where would go?
Japan, Thailand, Brazil, The Netherlands and Greece
18. Tell us something (that you wouldn't mind sharing) that you think no one else knows about you.
I’m still searching for myself. And I have to flip through magazines like 4 of 5 times before I can actually read anything in it, (lol) I don’t know why; it’s an odd compulsion.
1.What is your real name and do you have a link to a website of yours you'd like to connect people to?
Kwesi Marcano www.kmarcano.com
2. Where you are from & where are you currently based?
Trinidad & Tobago, Trinidad.
3. What is your ethnic background (it is interesting in relation to the group's theme)?
I am of African decent.
4. What do you think about this group and how do you personally relate to it?
I think it’s wonderful, it isn’t often that we have an opportunity, especially in a country like my own which is so heavily influenced by western (i.e. American) ideas of beauty, to see the world from another’s point of view.
5. Is photography your profession?
I am a graphic artist; I guess photography (especially of late) is my part time job.
6. How did you get started in photography?
I did a photography class at the technical collage I went to, but this was back before Digital SLRs and while I was very interested in it, the cost of things like film and processing chemicals and so on was a little out of my reach. At the time I saw it more as a hobby than a professional path. I currently work for an advertising agency and last year one of the photographers we work with was selling his back up camera (a canon d30) and I guess he realized (from some of the convos we had) that I had in interest in photography. So he gave me first dibs on it and I just ‘went to town’ from there.
7. Are you into any other forms of visual art or history/enthnography/anthropology.cultural studies as either a profession or hobby? If so, tell us a bit about it.
Comic books, I wrote a story a few years ago and before I die I have to finish drawing that. Animation but I found it to be to time consuming and I got bored with the isolation.
8. In your photography, what format & equipment do you most use and like to use (i.e., camera(s), film stock, etc.)?
Digital, currently I’m using a canon 20D and I rent different types of equipment from time to time, I like to experiment.
9. Describe your style as a photographer; What is unique about it? What makes you stand out?
Wow, that’s a difficult one to answer… I think from a local perspective, I live in a country which, unfortunately, is not as culturally astute as It should be... at least where visual media is concerned. Photography isn’t really seen as an “art form” by a lot of people. I mean, don’t get me wrong; we can appreciate the beauty of a good photo but people see me with my camera and the first thing they ask me is “what website is that for?” and I tell them, "well I just like taking pictures..." and their response is always like “oh.” So when I do show them my stuff they are like … “oh wow that’s really beautiful.” So I would say my work is more introspective and experimental.
10. What would you like to/ what do you do with your photography (e.g., publish in magazines, get photo assignments)?
I would like to be able to exhibit my work in other parts of the world especially in places where few people have never heard of Trinidad & Tobago. And I would like to be able to travel as I said and bring those images back home.
I am also fascinated by erotic photography so I would love to publish a book of erotic photos as well.
Also I wouldn’t mind working for an entertainment magazine. If I could I would like to follow a band around for like a year and document them behind the scenes. I saw a documentary on Annie Leibovitiz once and I thought wow that would be a cool way to spend like a year of your life.
11. Are you shy when taking photographs of people? What is your approach?
Sometimes, because people in my country are very camera shy and they don’t understand that sometimes photographers will take pictures for the sheer artistic value and not necessarily for commercial use, or to exploit their image. So taking pictures of strangers here can sometimes be a cultural faux pas. So most time I have to be little sneaky about it. But then I go up to them and show them the pictures and if I’m lucky, they like what they see and open up to letting me take some more. Or sometimes I have to play tourist and then they just write me off a such.
12. Is there a person, persons or subject matter that you would LOVE to photograph?
Portraits of famous people
13.. What is your dream job?
Work for Rolling Stones magazine.
14. What is/What are your favorite colours?
Orange, black and green.
15. What is your best time of day (i.e., when are you most creative &/or energetic)?
Early morning.
16. What are your favorite foods?
Pizza or anything with lots of cheese.
17. If you had a pre-paid ticket to 5 different locations anywhere in the world, where would go?
Japan, Thailand, Brazil, The Netherlands and Greece
18. Tell us something (that you wouldn't mind sharing) that you think no one else knows about you.
I’m still searching for myself. And I have to flip through magazines like 4 of 5 times before I can actually read anything in it, (lol) I don’t know why; it’s an odd compulsion.